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Jan. 7, 2010
Large oaks headed back to beachfront park
GULFPORT — Thanks to the Island View Casino Resort, Gulfport beautification crews will replant two large live oak trees on Monday at 1 p.m. at Preservation Oaks Park on the beach.
The old oaks in the park were destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. The Island View recently purchased two 18-foot oaks to replace the lost trees. The casino had the $1,200 trees shipped from a nursery in Florida to Gulfport’s Public Works headquarters on Hewes Avenue.
"My business partner and co-owner of Island View Casino Resort, Terry Green, and I grew up in the shade of many of Gulfport’s beautiful live oaks, and we recognize the destruction of some of those majestic trees is a true loss to the Gulf Coast,” said Rick Carter, co-owner of Island View. “Through the planting of these two new oaks, it is an honor for Island View to continue our support of Gulfport's rebuilding journey. We look forward to seeing these trees grow in Preservation Oaks Park, along with the growth of this great area."
The trees will be planted at Preservation Park during a ceremony on Monday.
The Gulfport City Council recently backed a push from Mayor George Schloegel to strengthen the city’s tree preservation ordinance. The goal of the new law is to bring an immediate end to the mass destruction of Gulfport’s natural canopy.
“We wanted to take significant steps toward preserving our natural green canopy and immediately adopting an ordinance protecting trees on residential property was a good start,” Mayor Schloegel said. “The Island View’s commitment to preserving our magnificent oaks is another giant step, and the city is very grateful of the casino’s effort and we are thankful that the Island View shares our understanding of the important role that our beautiful trees play here in South Mississippi.”
Tree planting
Who: City of Gulfport and the Island View Casino Resort.
What: Two 18-foot live oaks.
Where: Preservation Oaks Park, on the beach in Gulfport, just east of the Port.
When: Monday at 1 p.m.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
